Mumbai civic body cancels order of Turkish lifebuoys to be deployed at 6 beaches
Each unit of the machine was equipped with dual water jets, a 10,000 mAh rechargeable battery, and had the capacity to carry up to 200 kg. It could travel 800 metres into the sea at speeds of up to 18 km/h and operate for about an hour, as per officials.The civic body faced strong criticism from political parties for the deal after Turkey extended diplomatic and military support to Islamabad during last month's military confrontation between India and Pakistan.Political leaders, including of the ruling BJP and its ally Shiv Sena, had questioned the procurement of the equipment from foreign suppliers instead of promoting indigenous alternatives.Turkey's open support to Pakistan in the wake of Operation Sindoor, India's military response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, triggered broader domestic calls for a boycott of goods made in the Eurasian country.Must Watch
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Hindustan Times
26 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Election Commission rejects Rahul Gandhi's ‘atom bomb' claims
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Friday termed as 'baseless and irresponsible' Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's claim his party had uncovered an 'atom bomb' of evidence proving voters lists were manipulated on a large scale, and said that it ignores such statements. Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi said the Congress began investigating after noticing irregularities during the Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Lok Sabha elections. He alleged that over 10 million voters were fraudulently added to the rolls. (Sansad TV) 'We dug deep because the Election Commission wasn't helping,' Gandhi told reporters outside Parliament. 'What we found is an atom bomb. When it explodes, you won't be able to see the Election Commission in India.' The Leader of Opposition said the party began investigating after noticing irregularities during the Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Lok Sabha elections. He alleged that over 10 million voters were fraudulently added to the rolls. 'There was a suspicion in the elections in Madhya Pradesh and the Lok Sabha, and it deepened in the Maharashtra assembly polls. At the state level, we believed there was a vote theft,' Gandhi said. 'It took us six months to study this in detail.' Gandhi issued a warning: 'Whoever is doing this, from top to bottom in the ECI, we won't spare you. You're working against the nation. This is treason.' In response, ECI said, 'The Election Commission ignores such baseless allegations being made on a daily basis and despite the daily threats being given, (it) asks all election officials to ignore such irresponsible statements and work in a fair and transparent manner.' The Congress has repeatedly accused the ECI of acting like a 'biased umpire', particularly in its handling of the 2024 general elections and multiple assembly polls. ECI said it had sent a mail to Gandhi on June 12 after previous allegations, but had not received a response. 'He has never sent any letter to ECI on any issue, whatsoever,' the election watchdog said. The latest accusation comes amid a broader protest by the opposition INDIA bloc over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Bihar's electoral rolls, which they claim is a BJP-backed attempt to disenfranchise voters. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge had also blamed the poll body on July 6, saying, 'With the cooperation of the Election Commission, the BJP's master plan to deprive crores in Bihar of their voting rights now seems to be ensnaring them. Forcibly disenfranchising the poor, Dalits, backwards — this is the BJP-RSS conspiracy.' Following a joint strategy meeting, the INDIA bloc parties on Thursday announced they will intensify their protests –– both in and outside Parliament. ECI published the draft electoral rolls for Bihar on Friday. Responding to Gandhi's claim , the BJP asked him to 'flow like water' instead of considering to 'explode like a bomb'. 'Will Rahul Gandhi explode like a bomb? What do you think? Their job is to explode. They have no other work to do,' BJP leader Sambit Patra told reporters at the BJP headquarters. He said the Opposition party speaks of such things because they have no faith in democracy. 'We are those who have faith in democracy. If they explode an atom bomb, we will save the Constitution,' Patra said.
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
Ex-CJI Khanna to appear before joint polls House panel on Aug 19
Former CJI Sanjiv Khanna is scheduled to interact with the Joint Committee of Parliament on the 'One Nation, One Election' (ONOE) Bill, on August 19, according to the meeting notice issued on Thursday. The committee, chaired by BJP MP P P Chaudhary, has held nine meetings so far. Former CJIs D Y Chandrachud, J S Khehar and U U Lalit have already interacted with the committee. As per the notice, the committee will hold a meeting on August 11 and interact with political scientists and experts and then hold the meeting with ex-CJI Khanna. If passed, the Bills would pave the way for simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and State/UT Assemblies in 2034.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Nuns' arrest: Pamplany seeks Centre's intervention
Kannur: Thalassery Archbishop Mar Joseph Pamplany on Friday criticized Centre over the arrest of two Keralite nuns — Sr Vandana Francis and Sr Preethi Mary — in Chhattisgarh. Speaking to the media on the sidelines of a protest meet in Thalassery demanding justice for the nuns, Pamplany said BJP-led Chhattisgarh govt's opposition to the nuns' bail application in NIA court was condemnable and suspicious. "(Union home minister) Amit Shah's words had given us relief. But his words weren't kept in the BJP-led state (Chhattisgarh). Central govt should intervene immediately," he demanded. Some laws like anti-conversion law have been passed by some states to attack persons illegally and send them to jail, Pamplany said. "Citing the law, minority communities are being harassed. Some terror outfits are behind this. Govt should be able to handle them," he said. "If we don't get justice, we will be forced to protest on the street. The Catholic community faced many sufferings earlier too and it always strengthened the community," he added. Venugopal visits nun's family Meanwhile, AICC general secretary K C Venugopal visited Sr Vandana Francis's family at Udayagiri in Kannur. Speaking to the media after visiting the family, he alleged that the ruling-BJP and Sangh Parivar were spreading hate and divisive politics for electoral gains. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like My family & I lost S$500,000 to a scam. Taking responsibility for it was hard, but it helped me grow CNA Read More Undo "Centre is playing political drama over the two nuns' arrest. If BJP leaders are sincere, they would have responded on the day of arrest itself, just like they react when they distribute cakes at houses of Christians," he said. He added that charges like human trafficking and conversion slapped on the nuns were baseless. "BJP leaders in Kerala are playing drama to attract the Christian community which always stood for secularism. The community will realise BJP's double standards" said Venugopal. Church heads now realise BJP's real character: Satheesan Opposition leader V D Satheesan said Church heads have now realised BJP's real character. He said that opposition warned during Christmas 2023 that wolves in sheep's clothing were arriving at bishop houses with cakes, referring to BJP's attempt to woo Christians. "Priests themselves now say that wolves in sheep's clothing came with cakes and that no one should come with cakes and crowns any more. Nationwide, Christians are being attacked. Nuns and priests cannot travel in their religious attire. We are making efforts to release the two imprisoned nuns," he said.
